Most disappointing travel destination.

61.
Posted byzebre(Budding Member 19 posts) 11y
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I went to Dublin, Ireland last summer and I found myself disappointed. It's a nice city, but it just didn't grab me. I had wanted to go to Ireland SO BADLY for years, too! Part of it was probably my expectations of green hills and white horses. And of course I only saw one city, so who knows, perhaps Ireland is actually like that mental picture?

and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Never having been to an African capital before, I guess I was expecting sort of a rundown-but-clean city of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern style white buildings and wide beaches and palm trees...when I arrived after an eight-hour bus ride from the highlands: it was so un-what I had imagined it was like getting hit in the face! In actuality Dar has lots of unpaved roads, lots of garbage in those unpaved roads, pickpockets galore and a combination of unattractive tall buildings and creaky hut-like buildings. On the plus side, the beaches are wonderful and the music scene is amazing! Probably the most unusual city I've been in to date (exactly one stoplight...the only one in all of Tanzania!). Of course then I hopped a ferry to Zanzibar and THAT, my friends, was everything I could have ever dreamed of!

62.
Posted byPurdy(Travel Guru 3546 posts) 11y
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Quoting zebre

I went to Dublin, Ireland last summer and I found myself disappointed. It's a nice city, but it just didn't grab me. I had wanted to go to Ireland SO BADLY for years, too! Part of it was probably my expectations of green hills and white horses. And of course I only saw one city, so who knows, perhaps Ireland is actually like that mental picture?

Dont know about the white horse but if you want green hills l would suggest you head toward Conamara or out into the countryside you will definately see the green hills - you will see them a plenty! Dublin is a great city but as you say it is a city and full of the sameness you get in all cities! Dont write Ireland off - just come back and get out into the countryside and hopefully it will live up to your expectations next time (although l saw your post in another thread and it looks like you are very busy this year already)

Heather

63.
Posted bymeterpai(Budding Member 51 posts) 11y
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hai phong, vietnam. it's a stopping point on the way to halong bay. got backed up because of bus tickets. i had to spend two nights in this city...it's completely dead, nothing to do! no other travellers around, just really nothing to do.

64.
Posted byEnlightmen(Budding Member 15 posts) 11y
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Seoul Korea, Was GREAT! However, I would not plan on travelling to far away from this thriving metroplis unless you like cow pastures, and dog farms. Seoul was nice but the rest of the country has a long way to go.

A few places spring to mind but i also agree that the places ive usually wanted to visit for so many years are at times a disappointment.

Ushuaia,Argentina i was expecting a small town perched on the edge of the world yet to me its just a completely overated tourist attraction for simply being the Southern Most City in the World.I would only ever go back to take a trip from here to Antarctica.

Santiago,Chile simply dull and boring.

66.
Posted byHafJafMark(Respected Member 291 posts) 11y
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Zebre

I went to Dublin, Ireland last summer and I found myself disappointed. It's a nice city, but it just didn't grab me. I had wanted to go to Ireland SO BADLY for years, too! Part of it was probably my expectations of green hills and white horses. And of course I only saw one city, so who knows, perhaps Ireland is actually like that mental picture?

Just out of interest, If you were looking for Green Hills and white horses, why on earth did you go to a city? Its like trying to find a Harrods in the jungle!

67.
Posted bybagpuss34(Budding Member 52 posts) 11y
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Disappointed with MALTA!! im 1/4 malteese and thought it would be great ! BIG NO NO! They are more expensive than england and because your on an ireland its a captive audience, and boy do they capitalise on it!

If you ever go - travel local style - old bedford buses! It the only cheap thing around!!

Hmmmmm I would say Czestochowa, Poland, just sort of blaaaa..... It was at the end of my trip though, and I was exhusted. London, everything went wrong... and like a few people here, Dublin. Lived there for a good while, it ate my spirit... actually the bloody knackers did. If you ever visit Ireland, its great in everyother sense. Other than that I've had a pretty good track record.

[ Edit: Edited on Mar 19, 2007, at 7:19 PM by Ardy ]

69.
Posted byEleniki(Full Member 125 posts) 11y
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I'm from Dublin and have lived here all my life. It's not a nice city. Maybe it was at one point - I seem to remember enjoying being a Dubliner once, in a past life, when I was much younger. But it has become manic, frenetic, crowded, angry, stressful to be in, greedy, ugly, full of nasty architecture and yummy mummies driving S.U.V. trucks. I concede that there are many cities and towns that answer to this description, the world over, but I think many people, and in particular the citizens of the U.S., have an image of Ireland and Dublin (think Guinness, leprechauns and Molly Malone) which in no way matches the somewhat sordid reality. We're just like any other tourist manifestation - we want your money, now. I wouldn't recommend my city in a fit. Sorry, all you sentimental paddies out there, but you know in your hearts it's true. Go to the west, or the south-west if you want to see beautiful Ireland, all ye who have never stepped on Irish shores...but be warned, the cowboyism is there too - it's rife I'm afraid. Is there anywhere left on this earth, I wonder, that has remained true to the original nature (both meanings) and character of itself? (or is that for another forum...?)

70.
Posted byblisters(First Time Poster 1 posts) 10y
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Wonder if Naples has improved in the past 28 years? Spent a night there unexpectedly while doing the Italy part of the Eurail tour and found it expensive, and unpleasant. We left the next day for Capri - very beautiful and cheap in off season. We arrived in Naples with no expectations, so it wasn't that. Always wondered if we'd have enjoyed the city more if we'd researched it?